Fofana is grateful for guidance of ‘Papa’
WESLEY Fofana says Brendan Rodgers has taken on the role of a father figure in an effort to help the young Frenchman’s development.
The 20-year-old centre-back, City’s marquee signing last summer after a £32 million move from SaintEtienne, has made a terrific start to his career in the Premier League, entrusted by Rodgers to play a key role in their bid to qualify for Europe again.
Of Premier League players under the age of 21, only Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Sheffield United’s Ethan Ampadu have played more minutes than Fofana this season.
In helping Fofana adjust to life in a new country and football in a new league, Rodgers has been what the Frenchman calls a ‘papa poule’, which literally translates as ‘father hen’.
It’s used in French to describe a doting, protective dad, and was a role that Rodgers took on immediately to sell the City project to Fofana.
“I had discussed with him before arriving, when we were negotiating between Leicester and SaintEtienne,” Fofana told Canal Plus in France. “Straight away, I was gripped by the project, I wanted to come.
“He had spoken to me in a straightforward way, he told me things clearly, that I was a young player, that he wanted me and that he wanted to make me grow, that he was not going to give me an easy ride, and that it was up to me to take my place.
“He’s supporting me all the time. We’ll say he’s a ‘papa poule’.”
Because of injuries in the backline, there was no possibility of easing Fofana in, but with his confident, strong displays, he has shown he was ready from the off.
Rodgers has previously said that he could see the £32 million outlay was money well-spent from Fofana’s first training session, and the centreback has now made 26 starts for the club in all competitions.
“Each game is a part of his journey to being a top-class defender,” Rodgers said of Fofana at the start of the month.